FARNBOROUGH 2010: Norwegian firms up options for 15 737-800s

Boeing and low-fare airline Norwegian Air Shuttle have signed an agreement for 15 Boeing 737-800s, with the airline exercising purchase rights from its 2007 order for 42 Next-Generation 737s.

The new order is valued at $1.15 billion at average list prices and increases the airline’s unfilled orders to 59.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, which operates commercially as “Norwegian”, is the second largest airline in Scandinavia and has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East.

“We owe our success to our customers – almost 11 million passengers chose to fly with us in 2009. The Next-Generation 737 allows us to offer them on-time departures and arrivals, an environmentally-responsible and comfortable journey,” said Bjorn Kjos, the airline’s CEO. “We recognise the tremendous value Boeing’s products and services bring to our business and are highly appreciative of the people of The Boeing Company.”

Norwegian’s order in 2007 for 42 aircraft and 42 purchase rights was the largest ever airplane order from any Scandinavian carrier. Norwegian is also among the first airlines in the world to incorporate the new, spacious 737 Boeing Sky Interior into its aeroplanes. The interior features soft, blue-sky-like lighting overhead, contemporary sculpted sidewalls and window reveals designed to draw passengers’ eyes to the windows, enhancing the passengers’ overall flying experience.

“Increasing the production rate of the Next-Generation 737 was the right thing to do to support the growth ambitions of successful carriers like Norwegian,” remarked Marlin Dailey, vice-president sales and marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “At the same time, we are improving the performance of the Next-Generation 737 to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by a further 2%.”